Comstock Receives Approvals For Future Heap Leach Expansions

VIRGINIA CITY, NV - Comstock Mining Inc. reported that the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection Bureau of Mining Regulation and Reclamation (NDEP-BMRR) has issued a Notice of Decision (NoD) approving a Major Modification to the Company's Water Pollution Control Plan for various expansions of the heap leach facility. This modification authorizes the construction of "Cell 10," located adjacent to and north of the existing leaching operation, and also identifies multiple, future heap leach pad expansions, south and southwest of the existing heap leach pad and existing facilities. The modification also allows both surface and underground mine processing at the heap leach facility.

Corrado De Gasperis, President & CEO, commented: "This proactive permitting authorizes significant future heap leach capacity on our existing private lands. These approvals provide us all of the leaching capacity needed for the foreseeable future."

The approved Cell 10 addition, the Company's largest leach pad design to date, will provide an estimated 2.9 million tons of additional capacity. It also allows for phased construction, at the Company's preference, with an ultimate footprint of 12.27 acres.

Unique to this modification is the identification and inclusion of future expansions for Cells 11 and 12, located adjacent to and southwest of the existing facilities. Those potential expansions would cover approximately 90 acres of land located entirely within the Company's private property.

De Gasperis concluded: "During the past year and half, we have expanded our land position, re-zoned the lands for both mining and non-mining uses, expanded our permits and eliminated substantially all material future royalties on those lands. These enhancements dramatically increase flexibility, minimize or eliminate lead times, and reduce future risks and costs."

Comstock Mining Inc. is a producing, Nevada-based, gold and silver mining company with extensive, contiguous property in the Comstock District.